Having seen all the other Harry Potter movies the day they came out I couldn't stop tradition, and so my Mum and I went to the late night screening on Thursday to see the movie. In the past I have been disappointed with how much of each book has been left behind and scrapped in the process of making each movie. This time, though, with the book being divided into two movies, I thought that it would be better. I wasn't disappointed.
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| Harry, Ron and Hermione escaping into London the night the Death Eaters attack... |
The plotline works perfectly in with the novel, leaving little out(from what I can remember - deliberately haven't read the book in the last twelve months) that is important. One of the reasons, one supposes, they split the movie into two. And yes, they split it just where I thought they would. They had to - it was virtually half-way to two-thirds of the way through the book, and the next section is the most action packed part, as well as the most wonderful.
One really good thing that was definitely beneficial to the plotline was seeing the flipside of the story - Voldemort's actions that Harry gets glimpses into every now and then. This becomes pivotal in the latter half of the book, so it's quite good that it's been included - especially the growing rage within Voldemort. As Voldemort's rage becomes more and more like frustration ("Why can't that boy just die already?!?!" - Voldemort's thought throughout the whole series, no doubt...), so Harry is able to see parts of his schemes, his machinations if you like. This allows Harry to make certain decisions that impact right at the end of the novel. Hopefully this will be played out well upon the screen, and explained very clearly so that people understand it to their satisfaction when seeing the movie for the first (and possibly only) time.
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| Snape reporting back to Voldemort |
The acting in this one has been pretty much of a similar standard to the previous, though the actors are probably getting better at their roles than even in the past. Perhaps they have matured more, and learned more techniques and skills. There are a few directorial problems, but that is more to do with the type of camera shots used - I like action shots, but not when they are really quickly sequenced together, and seem not to be on a steady cam. There is also the use of 'hand-held' camera shots, possibly to try and make a scene more intimate/personal. Sorry, it doesn't work. Or at least, not for me. The wobbliness of the camera puts the audience off, making it annoying. Steadiness would have worked better at creating a more poignant moment - or at least in my opinion it would have.
Apart from these minor items, I really enjoyed the movie. The storyline is there and it is actually the first of the movies in which I can say that I wouldn't mind seeing it again at the movies. Most times the movies have been 'shoddy' in producing an accurate storyline, perhaps focussing more on the special effects more than anything else. Not this time. The effects are there, but they have created the effects as part of the storyline - they don't dominate it (like they seemed to do in Goblet of Fire). It follows on from the previous movies well, and it leaves off perfectly to create tension, mystery and curiosity for Part 2.
If you enjoy Harry Potter then I recommend you going along and see the movie. Enjoy it, and be prepared to hear groans from others in the audience when the break comes along...
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| What it all comes down to: horcruxes or hallows? |
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